UPS drivers don't load their trucks b/c the company realized they could pay a handler (preloader) a third of what the drivers make to do it. Have you ever actually stopped and looked around during a FDX AM sort? Half the drivers are just talking with their hands on their hips or drinking coffee. Unless you are the first truck online or have a bulky route, it's not that difficult. I guarantee the loaders on a UPS sort are busting @ss nonstop the whole time. So you think you should get equal pay as UPS? Ok, their loaders make what, $8-10/hr....I'm sure FedEx would go for that. Again, please show me where in any part of any law that it says FDX has to do what UPS does? That is the worst argument there is......if we did everything exactly the way they do, what would be the point......we might as well merge and become a monopoly instead of a duopoly. UPS tops out after 3 yrs, great, why should we other then b/c you think we should? Why don't their PTers get benefits after 3 months like we do? Why don't their PTers have the same payscale as the FTers like we do? They do it, so we should too isn't even an argument....it's just ridiculous.
Stop paying dividends and bonuses? Come on, I know you aren't that dumb. Where do you think the capital comes from that allows us to build infrastructure, buy planes, equipment, and stay in operation? Investors! Where do they go when you stop paying dividends? Away. Bonuses? UPS does it, so why can't we? (Too use so many other's logic) Without bonuses what "talent" we have goes elsewhere as well. The executive pay of FedEx is nowhere near as outrageous as many other companies....especially banks, oil companies, etc. Are they still crazy high by normal people's standards? Of course. Do you know any director's or VP's? They hardly ever take vacation and are stressed out of their minds. And they all did your job at one point, with the exception of very few of them, so yes, they know what it takes. We don't just hire J. Smith from GM and pay him $2M/yr, they have all been promoted from within and have a much broader view of the company than you or I. They worry about much more than the 100 or so pkgs on your truck. Also, there were no mgt bonuses in 2009, and the 2008 and 2010 bonuses were/are only funded at 50%.
I'm in no way, shape, or form against SS.....I just understand that in it's current state it is in shambles and I am not counting on it for retirement. Any SS that I get will be just about enough to buy lunch for the day unless there is a major overhaul. UPS paid $6 Billion dollars to get out of the Central States Pension fund a few years ago. I bet the hourly employees would have rather that been paid out in a company bonus to them instead of to get out of a corrupt union run pension. I believe the story on the homepage of Browncafe said that the fund only had .47 on the 1.00 owed. Just b/c you are promised a pension at a certain amount, doesn't mean the money will be there when you retire. i honestly don't know the state of the current UPS pension, but I'm sure it's better of now. But, since I don't for UPS I don't get my panties in a bunch over it. If I wanted their pension, I would get a job there.